The Bouma Group is proud to have Brandee Wiseman on their team of real estate professionals as an exclusive listing specialist. As a successful business owner, Brandee has a passion for helping others by putting clients first, providing outstanding service, and always seeking win-win agreements. After moving to Ann Arbor 7 years ago with her family, she found her calling in real estate. Working alongside Martin Bouma, she has learned from the best and is devoted to assisting home sellers with one of the most important transactions of their lives.

The Bouma Group has been servicing the real estate needs of Washtenaw County for more than 30 years and brings a unique, personal touch to each transaction. Thorough market knowledge, exceptional follow-through, and cutting edge marketing are the hallmarks of The Bouma Group’s continued success and have made them the #1 real estate team in Ann Arbor in every category. To find out more about home and condo buying opportunities in Washtenaw County, contact The Bouma Group at 734-761-3060 or visit their website at www.bouma.com.

Having the best energy-efficient home features now means you won’t need to upgrade your home later when you sell. Plus, these features may also add value to your home.

5. Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats let you control when you want the heat and air conditioning to be running in your home, saving you money on your monthly energy bills. Some thermostats, such as Nest Learning Thermostats, even let you control the temperature remotely on your phone, an appealing feature for today’s home buyers.

4. Energy-Efficient Appliances

There are plenty of cost-saving options for the appliances throughout your home. Energy Star offers many appliances and equipment from kitchen appliances to water heaters that are popular energy-efficient home features.

3. Green Home Construction

Materials involved in home construction can be also be energy-efficient. Different types of insulation and energy-efficient windows, such as low-emissivity (low E), can be installed to reduce your heating and cooling costs.

2. Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures

A way to save money on your water bill is to replace your toilet, faucet, or shower head with a low-flow toilet and water-conserving features.

1. LED Lightbulbs

A simple switch from incandescent lighbulbs to LED bulbs will not only brighten your home but save you money on your energy bill.

Using these bulbs can also help you as you’re selling your home, too; brighter rooms are more appealing to buyers who are scrolling through online listing photos and viewing homes.

Today’s home buyers may be searching for a home that is similar to yours, and if you have the energy-efficient home features they are looking for, they may value your home more.

But Before You Upgrade Your Home…

As the real estate experts in this area, we know what features home buyers are looking for. So before you completely upgrade your home with these features or other home improvements, talk to us about whether you need to spend the time and money installing them.

All your home may need is expert marketing to attract buyers.

We’d be happy to talk with you about the best energy-efficient home features and what today’s buyers are searching for. Just give us a call at The Bouma Group at 734-761-3060 or email info@bouma.com today!

Ann Arbor Plunges Deeper into Seller’s Market for Condos

Ann Arbor dips further into a seller’s market, with a 1.1 month supply of condo inventory, as sales continue to soar and listings aren’t keeping pace. When looking back at February over the last few years, inventory is actually pretty steady. There were 160 condos listed in 2015, 157 in 2014, and 146 in 2013. However, there are not enough listings to keep up with today’s buyer demand. The condo listings we’ve taken so far this year have all received offers within the first week.

Year Ends in Strong Seller’s Market for Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor Real Estate ended the year in a strong seller’s market with a 2.6 month supply of homes listed for sale. Inventory continues to dwindle, as it typically does this time of year, but it is at its lowest point in quite a few years. All price points have a relatively low month supply, even the higher price points. Sales remain steady and were up 12.5 percent compared to a year ago. According to the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors, The Ann Arbor area was a real estate hot spot in 2015, making the top 20 list for hottest real estate markets in the United States.

This huge lack of inventory makes this the best time to get your home listed for sale! Don’t wait for the spring market to get here, buyers are out there now and are scooping up great houses in record time. Call us today at The Bouma Group for a market analysis of your home – it’s quite possibly worth a lot more than you think! 734-761-3060 or info@bouma.com.

Martin Bouma and The Bouma Group welcome Lauren Astles to their team of Real Estate Professionals as a Buyer’s Agent. Lauren joins the team with over 8 years of experience in the Real Estate business. Having studied and gained professional experience in England, she is driven in providing her clients with the best service and support in making their biggest decision of finding a new home. After relocating to Ann Arbor, she was excited to be able to apply her international knowledge and experience to specialize in the Ann Arbor and surrounding areas market. Lauren feels that every client deserves a first class experience and strives to provide this with her attention to detail, market knowledge and enthusiasm for real estate.

The Bouma Group has been servicing the real estate needs of Washtenaw County for 30 years and bring a unique, personal touch to each transaction. Thorough market knowledge, exceptional follow-through, and cutting edge marketing are the hallmarks of their continued success and have made them Ann Arbor’s Premier Realtors. To find out more about home and condo buying opportunities in Washtenaw County, contact The Bouma Group at 734-761-3060 or visit their website at www.bouma.com.